Here are a few locals doing Mardi Gras inspired events I snagged off Facebook…methinks a visit to Rosso may be in order.

Noon Concert at HopMonk/Sebastopol: Celebrate fat Tuesday with a Free Krush Lunchtime Set with the Southern Blues/Rock sounds of the North Mississippi Allstars! You won’t be able to sit still. The guys will play a short set featuring some of your favorites plus music from their latest release, “Keys To The Kingdom.” All ages, doors open at 11:30. Free.

Costeaux Bakery: Costeaux welcomes guest Chef Rob Lippincott of Louisiana Legacy on Tues, March 8th from 7 am to 4 pm. Chef Rob will be serving up authentic Louisiana dishes including shrimp and grits for breakfast as well as seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee and muffalatta. Costeaux also will begin offering their delicious hot cross buns that will be available through Easter Sunday. 417 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, 433-1913

Oh! Late entry from Central Market in Petaluma: On Tuesday, March 8, 2011 please join us to celebrate Mardi Gras at Central Market. Being a New Orlean native, every year I miss the fun and debauchery of Mardi Gras. This year I decided we would do our best to at least mark the day with a fine New Orleans inspired special menu. I’m especially looking forward to making my grandmothers (Esthermae) recipe for chicken gumbo. We will also be listening to WWOZ radio live from New Orleans.We look forward to seeing you. This menu will be a la carte. CA crawfish – Louisiana Style; Panfried LA. Catfish topped with capers and lemon in brown butter; Fried oyster Po Boy sandwhich – our baguette with shredded cabbage and oysters in garlic butter and mayonnaise; Shrimp creole – stewed in a picante tomato sauce with the holy trinity
of vegetables; Esthermaes Chicken – anadouiille gumbo with okra; Blackened flatiron steak – chili hollandaise; Banana – pecan bread pudding with rum sauce. 42 Petaluma Blv., Petaluma, 778-9900.

McNear’s, Petaluma: Join us this Tuesday for a FREE Mardi Gras Party……..Live Music w/ Two Bands, Full Rum Bar with Classic New Orleans Cocktails, Gumbo, Gator Sliders and Much Much More! WINNING!!! 23 Petaluma Blvd. No., Petaluma, 765-2121.

I remember that place too. Great food. I was too young to know why they closed, just wish they didn’t.

Nedward
on March 8, 2011 at 12:37 pm

I can’t believe that this community can’t support a real full-time Cajun restaurant. Is anyone old enough to remember the former Sweet Georgia Brown’s in Montgomery Village, which closed before I had a chance to dine there? It was probably ahead of its time, which is why it went away…

All they seem to know around here is artsy-fartsy California fusion, “small plates”, or one crappy hamburger joint after another!

There was a place down in Cotati for a while, too. It’s kind of the same with BBQ joints around here. We just can’t seem to sustain them. Who knows. There ARE a lot of local chefs with New Orleans ties around here, however, so you’d be surprised how often it shows up.

Check out restaurants like Zin in Healdsburg, Epicurean Connection in Sonoma, Starlight in Sebastopol to name a couple.

b-zoot
on March 8, 2011 at 3:59 pm

Thaddeus @ Starlight makes a killer gumbo and some mean BBQ shrimps. John @ Rosso can make Cajun food in his sleep (he’s from Emeril’s!) but you have to ask, or be persistent — no lagniappe there. As for Po’ Boys, Etouffe, Turtle Soup, or other Creole specialties…they’re in ridiculous short supply here in the North Bay. Sadly.